Everything the Avengers and the Fantastic Four need to fight Doctor Doom inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsmay already have been established inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Even more dangerous than Kang the Conqueror, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom has taken the title of theMCU’s next big bad. The mystery around Doom’s arrival only makes him more threatening.
Right at the start of Phase 6, the MCU introduced two of the most powerful characters in Marvel lore.The Fantastic Four: First Stepsmarked the debut of both Galactus and Franklin Richards. The former is an ancient entity who wields the Power Cosmic, and the latter possesses an unmatched amount of power that surpasses the energy contained in countless planets across the universe.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Suggests Franklin Richards Will Be Doctor Doom’s Biggest Weapon
Franklin Richards' immense power is the center ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' plot. Like in the source material,the MCU’s Franklin possesses one of the biggest wells of powerin the whole universe, to the point that Galactus can sense him from hundreds of thousands of miles away. According to Galactus, Franklin’s energy is enough to quench his hunger permanently.
Although Franklin Richards survived the events of his debut movie,The Fantastic Four: First Steps' post-credits scenereveals that Doctor Doom has also set his sights on the child.Considering how powerful Galactus considers the baby to be, it only makes sense for Franklin Richards to become Doctor Doom’s best weapon forAvengers: Doomsday. How exactly Doom will weaponize Franklin is yet to be seen.
Using his unmatched blend of science and sorcery, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom might construct a device or cast an enchantment to channel Franklin Richards' powers toward reshaping the multiverse to the tyrant’s image. Just as easily as Franklin can resurrect the dead, he could create or shape the Sacred Timeline effortlessly. In Doom’s hands, Franklin’s limitless energy may become the key to multiversal domination.
Avengers: Doomsday Might Annex The Fantastic Four’s Universe To The MCU’s Main Timeline
In Marvel Comics, Battleworld is a patchwork planet created from fragments of different universes, all forced together under the rule of a single power. While multiple versions have appeared in the comics, the 2015Secret Warsiteration is the most likely blueprint for the MCU. This Battleworld merged realities into distinct regions, each retaining its own history and rules.
In the MCU,Avengers: Doomsdaycould pave the way for a similar event by linkingthe Fantastic Four’s Earth-828and other live-action universes to Battleworld. Various theories speculated its destruction. However,the Fantastic Four’s retrofuturistic timeline could instead be annexed to the MCU’s Battleworld at the end ofAvengers: Doomsday.
Instead of incorporating obscure comic book realms, the MCU’s Battleworld could merge beloved live-action timelines. Fox’sX-Menuniverses, Sony’s Spider-Man universes, and the Fantastic Four’s Earth-828 could coexist on this stitched-together planet. InAvengers: Secret Wars, Marvel could use an epic version of Battleworld as a multiversal battleground where every famous live-action Marvel character can interact with each other.
Doctor Doom’s Battleworld Could Bring Galactus Back For Vengeance
Battleworld allows travel between universes without the need for advanced science or magic. Crossing from one realm to another is as simple as moving across borders. If the MCU’sAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsfollow the same path as 2015’sSecret Wars, all known realities may surround the central kingdom of Doomstadt.
Once this patchwork planet is created, Galactus could freely travel from Earth-828 to Earth-616 as he looks for the Fantastic Four and Franklin Richards, in search of revenge. Battleworld’s creation could shorten the time he needs to recover from his recent defeat. Freed from his original universe’s boundaries, no one but Doom would stand in the way of the Devourer of Worlds.
Galactus' vendetta might inevitably lead him straight to the Fantastic Four right as they’re in the midst of their war against Doctor Doom. This would likely occur in2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars, once Battleworld is fully established and the heroes are already neck-deep in their fight against Doom. Then, Galactus could interrupt the war to try capturing Franklin again.
Franklin Richards Could Use Galactus To Defeat Doctor Doom In Avengers: Secret Wars
Older and more experienced, Franklin Richards could turn the tide by using his cosmic power to make Galactus his herald as soon as the Devourer returns.This inversion ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' plotwould give Franklin the ultimate weapon against Doom. Commanding Galactus could help the Fantastic Four and the Avengers shift the balance of Battleworld’s war in one decisive move.
In the comics, Franklin Richards achieves a similar feat as an adult hero from a distant future. InFantastic Four#604, a future version of Franklin Richards appears as a seasoned, godlike hero during the“Forever”arc. This future Franklin has tamed Galactus, who now serves as his loyal herald in a war against the Celestials threatening Earth.
Franklin Richards is notoriously difficult to handle in crossover events because of his extreme power. Similarly to howAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgameincapacitated the Hulk, it would make sense for Franklin to remain kidnapped and controlled by Doctor Doom duringAvengers: Doomsday. InAvengers: Secret Wars' climax, Franklin could then be the one to unleash Galactus against Doom.
